Discuss what is meant by the term Qualitative Research
Briefly, describe the characteristics of qualitative research and identify nursing issues/phenomena that lend themselves to a qualitative research approach.
Compare and contrast three different qualitative research methodologies.
Briefly, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research evidence for informing nursing practice.
Communicate how this research design used in research.
Qualitative research is a systematic approach to inquiry that seeks to understand a phenomenon by exploring the experiences, perspectives, and meanings of individuals or groups in their natural settings. Unlike quantitative research, which focuses on numbers, measurements, and statistical analysis to test hypotheses, qualitative research delves into the "how" and "why" behind phenomena. It's about gathering rich, descriptive data – often in the form of words, observations, or images – to gain a deep, nuanced understanding of complex human experiences, social processes, and cultural contexts. The researcher acts as an active participant in interpreting the data, aiming to build theories or generate insights rather than prove statistical relationships.